CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 17937, 4 December 1923, Page 3

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

MONTHLY MEETING.- ' The council of the Canterbury Chamber of Commerce met last night. Present : Mr Stronach Paterson (chair T man), Messrs V. P H.. Holland, H. H. Smith, J. B. Mitchell, W. F. Soper, W. Bottrell, N.. M. Orbell,. "W. M. Tyers, C, B. Trimmell, F. W. Hobbs, S. Orchard, N';.M. Shand, J.; : G. Herdroan, A. L. Macfarlane, A. G. Henderson, W. Machin, C. P. Agar, P. H. Harris, and H. J. Elliott.'. The chairmafi extended a welcome to the representative of the various organisations which had recently joined up with the Chamber. A letter was received from the Department of Industries and.Tra.de with reference to the.question of accommodation for visitors,-to London in connexion with the British Empire Exhbition next year. TluJ letter stated, tn&t 3» cable had oome t<> hand to the effect ■ that the High Commissioner was or opinion that, his,, office was not suited. for conducting an accommodation bureau. The accommodation authorities, however, were in touch with ...an organisation which proposed to acquire an hotel for the exclusive use ot overseas visitors and to . attach to it & bureau for registration ,of hotel ana boardins-house accommodation,: including a women's section.- This latter section would particularly deal with private householders, who would provide accommodation, for paying guests. The High Commissioner would supply details when available. The letter was received. A letter was received from the Canterbury Progress League enclosing a letter'from the Railway Department respecting complaints made of the delay in the transport of goods ex the s.s. Tainui. The letter stated that the delay was due to the fact that the manifests or the ship's cargo were not handed to the Department m time for the cargo to be dealt with promptly. The letter was received. • A letter was received from Mr b. A. Bruce, Island Hill, Lees-Valley, on behalf of the settlers pf the valley, asking that the Chamber should do its. best to bring before Parliament the urgent need of telephonic communication with Oxford. . The matter was referred to-the Progress League. The secretary of the -South Island Motor Union wrote thanking the Chamber for. its offer of assistance when an opportunity offers m connexion with the Highways . Act and. Motor Vehicles Bill. A sub-committee was set up to go. into the question of acquiring the. City Council Chambers as a Commerce Hall and to report to the next meeting. . The chairman said that he under-, stood the Council would be vacating the Chambers in March. The president (Mr E. H. Wiles), W ■ J. Jenkin, N. M. Orbell, A. G. Henderson, D. Reese, and W. M. bliand were appointed la committee to go into the question of immigration. A letter was received from the Port Christchurch League expressing pleasure at the resolution passed, at a meeting of the. Chamber in,favour of increasing the citv's representation on the Lyttelton Harbour Board to ropre-

sent AW importing and' exporting section of the community.;, .. .. The matter was left. in. the hands of the president and Mr C. J. B- Williams to deal with.' ■ . , , The chairman ,of the Advance Ashburton Association wrote asking 'that, a representative of the -Ch .amber- shouldvisit 'Ashburton and address};, a. publicmeeting of business men with-a view "to ' .the formation of a similar organisation' in that town.- _ . . • • After some discussion,- it. was decided, that the Chamber, Bhould send two delegates to Ashburton to confer with the Advance Ashburton Association reporting the result of the conference' to next meeting of the Chamber. The chairman and Mr H. H. Smith were appointed as delegates. It was decided to make the usual grant of £2l to the fuiids of the Christchurch''Technical College.